Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook softball team began defending its Conference 5 title two weeks ago, albeit with some major changes.
The Owls have a new coach in Tom Frawley, a 40-year bench boss who brings plenty of experience with Long Island varsity softball, and a smaller and revamped division that features higher-level competition than the ones that Lynbrook steamrolled en route to a 16-3 record.
This year’s divisional rivals include county finalist Wheatley, 16-win Port Washington, and seven-game winners Long Beach, New Hyde Park, and Valley Stream North. Because of that and the team’s 1-2 start in conference play, Frawley believes there is still plenty of work to be done.
“They’re doing pretty good,” he said. “Unfortunately, I only had five practice days before we started our non-league games. They needed a lot of work in order to play at a higher level as far as technique was concerned and stuff like that. And they’re coming along fine.”
Lynbrook began the season by scoring a combined 35 runs in non-league wins at Hewlett and Freeport before dropping a 9-4 decision to host New Hyde Park on March 27. The Owls were staring an 0-2 conference start in the face two days later against Valley Stream North, but Caleigh Buckley made sure she sent the home opener crowd happy.
The sophomore pinch hitter reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh and stole second before advancing to third on a passed ball two batters later. But when the Spartan catcher tried to throw her out at third, the ball sailed into left field and Buckley scampered home with the winning run to cap a wild 13-12 victory.
The offense is again led by senior catcher Bianca LoBosco, who is already 7-for-9 at the plate this season with six RBIs and 10 runs scored. She earned All-County honors last spring after hitting .667 with eight home runs, including two grand slams, and 48 RBIs.
“On the offensive side, when she hits the ball she crushes it,” Frawley said. “She’s an outstanding athlete. She runs well for a catcher and, when she’s catching, she throws from her knees and it’s a laser down to second base.”
Senior pitcher and utility player Kylie Schroeder is also off to a strong start at both the plate and on the hill. Last season’s Conference 5 Pitcher of the Year is responsible for all three wins and has fanned 23 batters in 21 innings while batting .429 with a home run and team-leading 11 RBIs.
Freshman Kamila DeJesus inherited the shortstop and leadoff hitter roles and is batting just over .300 with nine runs scored and senior outfielder and cleanup hitter Kelsey Roth is off to a solid start by going 4-for-8 with three RBIs in three games.
Senior second baseman Jessica Ferrara is starting to find her groove after collecting three hits against North and senior center fielder Emma Mylan keyed a six-run seventh inning with a two-run double in Lynbrook’s 18-13 win over Hewlett on March 25.
